Year: 2016
Spread The Sparkle Holiday Event For Barrier Free Living
Spread The Sparkle hosted a holiday event for Barrier Free Living on December 25, providing a sumptuous dinner buffet, a visit from Santa and gifts for nearly 180 attending.
Tenants of Barrier Free Living apartments, residents of the agency's Freedom House domestic violence shelter and consumers of BFL's Secret Garden domestic violence program attended the festivities. The day's events included a photo booth, Santa Claus, caroling and more.
Spread The… read more
Spread the Sparkle, Evento Festivo Anual de Barrier Free Living
Spread the Sparkle organizó un evento festivo para Barrier Free Living el 25 de diciembre, ofreciendo un suntuoso buffet de cena, una visita de Santa y regalos para casi 180 asistentes.
Los inquilinos de Barrier Free Living Apartments, los residentes del refugio de violencia doméstica de la agencia, Freedom House y los usuarios del programa de violencia doméstica del Secret Garden… read more
NYC Metro RID ASL Happy Hour Event
NYC Metro RID will hold a Holiday Happy Hour on December 15th at Slante Bar (304 Bowery NYC) at 6pm and welcomes all in the Deaf community.
The mission of Metro RID is to initiate, sponsor, promote and execute practices that will further the profession of the interpretation of American Sign Language and English and the transliteration of English.
For Questions, please contact Danielle Piccirilli at [email protected]… read more
Kids Of BFL Apartments Perform Charlie Brown Play
Kids living at Barrier Free Living Apartments performed a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving play at the complex's community event in November.
The play kicked off the BFL Apartments' community Thanksgiving dinner, and drew a crowd of enthused parents, friends and staff.
Tenants and staff pitched in to create the magical set, sew and decorate costumes and set the stage for an unforgettable show. The theatre group hopes to do another show in the near future.
BFL Apartments offers permanent homes for survivors of… read more
National Action Network Hosts Thanksgiving Dinner For People In Shelter
The National Action Network on behalf of Rev. Al Sharpton is hosting a Thanksgiving event on Thursday, November 24th for homeless- and/or individuals/families living in shelters.
The free event is at 106 145th St., NY NY 10039 from 11am-3pm… read more
Poet/Educator Cathryn Ana Glenday
Cathryn Ana Glenday, MPH, MA, LMHC, is a psychotherapist and health educator focusing on disability mental health in Albuquerque.
She has been writing poetry since grade school. She is also working on a memoir about her own life and the lives of other disabled women she has encountered as a medical student and grad student in clinical psychology. She shares a poem, below.
Desert Fortress
High above Albuquerque, behind the barbed wire fence,
The isolated desert… read more
Hearts Of Gold Donates Gift Bags To Freedom House Pregnant Moms
Hearts of Gold donated bath and shower gift bags to the pregnant moms at Barrier Free Living Freedom House domestic violence shelter.
The mission of Hearts of Gold, which has supported Freedom House in various capacities over the past few years, is "re-imagining the future of homeless mothers and their children, together by helping them to become confident and self-sufficient as they prepare to transition out of New York City shelter… read more
BFL Apartments Community Halloween Party Draws Kids, Parents, Staff
BFL Apartments held a fun and festive community Halloween party for tenants and staff on October 25.
The event included lunch, a costume contest and activities for the kids.
BFL Apartments in the Bronx offers permanent homes for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and veterans with disabilities and includes on site counseling, skill-building… read more
#AskHumanRightsNYC Twitter Q&A Friday October 28
The NYC Commission on Human Rights is an accessible resource for New Yorkers with questions, concerns, and inquiries about their rights under the City Human Rights Law.
Looking to add more channels of contact between its agency and partners, community members, and New Yorkers of all walks of life, this Friday will be the first #AskHumanRightsNYC Twitter Question & Answer session.
Have any questions about discrimination in housing, employment, or public accommodations; the Commission… read more
Helping Hands For The Disabled NYC Halloween Party
Helping Hands for the Disabled of NYC is holding its annual Halloween Party on Monday, October 31, 6pm to 8pm at the Hudson Guild, 441 W. 26th Street between 9th and 10th Avenue.
The cost is $10, small sandwiches and special treats will be served. Register to attend by calling 718-606-9712. Helping Hands for the Disabled NYC is a non-profit organization which has… read more
Surviving & Thriving Domestic Violence Awareness Event Oct. 21
Photo: BFL's Aeilushi Mistry (at left) with Diana Reyna , Deputy Brooklyn Borough President
The Second Annual Surviving & Thriving event took place Friday October 21 from 10AM to 4PM at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Jeralemon St., Brooklyn NY.
The event was a "celebration of courage, resilience, and strength from survivors and organizations that are thriving in our communities." The day included breakfast, relaxation and rejuvenation activities and a host of domestic violence organizations… read more
Art By Kids Of Freedom House Shelter Featured At TD Bank’s Bring Change Event
Art made by the kids from Barrier Free Living's (BFL) domestic violence programs was on display at the TD Bank's Bring Change Event Friday Oct. 7 in NYC.
BFL works with people with disabilities — both survivors of domestic violence and homeless men, women and children — to thrive in safe, supportive communities. Team members from BFL were on hand to talk about the agency's work, as the bank staff encouraged patrons to… read more
ABC’s Speechless Highlights Teen With A Disability
While able-bodied actors portray 95 percent of actors with a disability, such is not the case with ABC’s new comedy “Speechless”.
The show follows a family of five with a special needs child, and Micah Fowler, a teen who has cerebral palsy, plays the character in the comedy. Show creator Scott Silveri loosely based “Speechless” on his experience growing up with an older brother with a disability.
The first episode features… read more
Exhibit Features Art By Children Of Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House Shelter
Art created by the children living at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter will be on display Monday October 17.
The exhibit is presented by the NYC Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, NYC Human Resources Administration and Gibney Dance Company.
The event will be held at 53A Chambers Street on Monday October 17 from 4pm-6pm.… read more
Barrier Free Living Honored With Caritas Medal
Barrier Free Living was one of the honorees at St. John's Universities' Vincentian Convocation, held on September 22 in St. Thomas More Church at the Queens campus. Each year, the event honors people and organizations whose lives and work mirror the University’s mission.
The Caritas Medal was presented to Paul Feuerstein, the President/CEO of Barrier Free Living, for the agency's powerful work assisting those with disabilities.
“As I listened to the citations… read more
Freedom House Ten Year Anniversary Video Highlights
Take a look at some of the highlights from the Freedom House Ten Year Anniversary event!
Freedom House Team Joins Brides March On September 26
Freedom House domestic violence shelter team members attended this year's Bride's March.
The March (where participants wear wedding gowns) "mourns the victims of domestic violence while raising awareness of the horrors of this antisocial criminal behavior."
The Gladys Ricart and Victims of Domestic Violence Memorial Walk/Brides’ March is an annual event which was started in New York City in 2001 to remember Gladys Ricart, a Dominican woman from Washington Heights, who was murdered… read more
BFL Launches New Website October 2016
Working with Coa design, Barrier Free Living will launch a stream-lined, mobile responsive site in October… read more
Música y Misión
Cuando no está explorando las oportunidades de beneficios y vivienda para los sobrevivientes sordos / con discapacidades auditivas de la violencia doméstica, el Administrador de Casos de Secret Garden probablemente está tocando su saxofón.
Atraído por la misión de Barrier Free Living, en particular el poderoso trabajo de la agencia con sobrevivientes sordos y con discapacidades auditivas, Caelan se unió al equipo el año pasado y arrancó a toda velocidad. Él se tomó… read more
BFL Apartments Launches Tenant Driven Community Newsletter
BFL Apartments has launched a community newsletter, led by tenants and organized by the occupational therapy team and social worker Sam Finan.
The newsletter's first issue is slated to release early fall, and will feature original poetry, listings of area happenings, and community news (including an update on the tenant's garden club, pictured).… read more
BFL’s Paul Feuerstein Joins HSC Emergency Preparedness Panel Aug. 3
Paul Feuerstein, President/CEO of Barrier Free Living was part of a panel on emergency preparedness for NYC Vulnerable Populations hosted by the Human Services Council (HSC).
The panel was part of the August 3 forum -- “The Human Services Sector and the Next Big One: Are We Ready for Disaster!?,” -- which included discussions on how human services organizations can get prepared to coordinate with each other and government to provide services to communities immediately in response to disasters and what… read more
BFL Apartments Lanza el Boletín de Noticias Comunitario Dirigido por Inquilinos
BFL Apartments ha lanzado un boletín comunitario dirigido por los inquilinos y organizado por el equipo de terapia ocupacional y el trabajador social Sam Finan.
La primera edición del boletín está programada para salir a principios del otoño, y contará con poesía original, listados de eventos del área y noticias de la comunidad (incluyendo una actualización sobre el club de jardinería del inquilino, en la foto).… read more
Moody’s Spruces Up Game Room For Freedom House Shelter Kids
Volunteers from Moody's made-over the Freedom House game room this month, brightening the space for children and teens at the domestic violence shelter.
Working with the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), the Moody's volunteers painted, hung a wall mural and put together a foosball table. The work was made possible due to a grant from Moody's in line with its corporate service day.… read more
Adaptive Surfing At Rockaway Beach NY
Residents of Barrier Free Living's Freedom House program and members of the agency's occupational therapy team joined Life Rolls On at Rockaway Beach, NY on July 23 for a day of adaptive surfing.
Life Rolls On sponsors "epic surf and skate events for wheelchair athletes". The residents plan to attend an adaptive water skiing event later this month.
Founded by world champion quadriplegic surfer Jesse Billauer, Life Rolls On is… read more
Jericho Road Breaking The Bonds Of Domestic Violence Walk
Jericho Road will hold its 9th annual Breaking the Bonds of Domestic Violence walk on October 1.
Registration and information is available here.
Jericho Road Inc. is a 501(c) 3 community based organization that is the vision of Dr. Elena Bascom, a survivor of domestic violence (DV). Due to her experiences as a child and as a victim of domestic violence, Dr. Bascom began outreach work to help… read more
BFL CEO Paul Feuerstein Featured On Encore
My “encore” work is expanding our focus into assisting disabled victims of domestic violence with emergency and permanent barrier-free housing.
Thirty years ago, I had no clue that the #1 issue facing women with disabilities nationwide is domestic abuse. Once I realized that the city had no services for this population, I worked to build a totally accessible domestic violence shelter for severely disabled women and their children, as well as victims… read more
Staff Profile: Tamara Willis’ Summer Growth As A BFL Intern
Tamara Willis joined Barrier Free Living (BFL) this summer as an intern working with our Occupational Therapy team. We caught up with Tamara (photo above) while she was participating in a gardening day project on the patio of our transitional housing program to talk about growth in all of its forms.
BFL: Tell us a little about you Tamara.
Tamara: I am a native New Yorker, born and raised in Queens, NY. I attended undergrad at Delaware State University… read more
BBCs The World’s Worst Place to be Disabled Film
The BBC's Film The World's Worst Place to Be Disabled? on Youtube looks at disabled journalist Sophie Morgan's heart-wrenching journey.
Chained up at prayer camps, exiled from villages for being cursed, forced on the streets and in some cases even killed, this is the reality for many disabled people in Ghana. Disabled journalist Sophie Morgan goes on an immersive journey to discover if Ghana is the World's Worst The World's Worst Place to Be Disabled?
Beginning in the country's thriving capital Accra… read more
Arc Of Riverside Honors Nora Baladerian and Thomas Coleman
Nora J. Baladerian, Ph.D and Thomas F. Coleman each received an award from The Arc of Riverside County at its 50th Anniversary awards Dinner in June.
Nora was honored for her role as an advocate of abuse education and prevention for people with disabilities, and Tom for his role as a rights and justice advocate seeking reform of conservatorship and guardianship systems.
The Arc of Riverside County recently produced a two-minute video about the Disability and Abuse Project. In the video, Nora (Executive… read more
BFL Transitional Housing Honors Fathers
The staff of BFL's Transitional Housing honored father's on June 19 hosting a cook out on the shelter's back patio.
The kitchen staff created a BBQ buffet and the BFL team and shelter residents gathered for the celebration… read more